Challenge Mode

A screenshot of a player's best times, viewable through the Roster tab of their Guild.

Previewed at BlizzCon 2011, Challenge Modes was a new system of dungeon challenges, like time trials. Players race to the end of the dungeon, competing for fast times in order to win medals (Gold, Silver, or Bronze).

Gold: The cosmetic class sets will remain character-specific. Any character that has earned all nine Gold medals will still be able to repurchase the appropriate set, should they misplace theirs, from Challenger Soong or Challenger Wuli in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. Any characters that have earned one or more “Challenger’s Path” teleport spells by earning Gold medals in Mists Challenge Modes will retain those spells.

Realm Best Titles: There are extremely limited titles that are held by the players who hold the best clear time for a given dungeon on a given server. Since those Challenge dungeons will no longer be available in Warlords of Draenor, their respective titles are also being permanently removed. However, players with the best clear time for any challenge mode dungeon on a server will be awarded the title of "Mistwalker." There will be new Challenge dungeons in the upcoming Warlords season, and new titles for which to contend, however.

The clock is ticking. Your group is making good progress, but you realize that if you don't hurry and work as a team, you will never make it in time. You approach the dungeon's last boss with a look of grim determination on your face; you will get that gold medal this time, come what may. He's almost down, but there are only seconds left on the timer. You yell at your group mates to give it their all for one last push, fingers flying across your keyboard. Finally he drops, and your group screams triumphantly: you've beaten the dungeon's best time. You've mastered its Challenge Mode.

Mists of Pandaria's Challenge Mode presents a new way to reward great team players and seasoned dungeon specialists. The idea is simple: if you select Challenge Mode for a dungeon, you and your group will be racing against the clock to finish the dungeon as quickly as possible. The faster you finish, the greater your reward.

You select Challenge Mode before you enter a dungeon. In this mode, your objective is to clear the instance and down all the dungeon's bosses as fast as you can. Your gear will be normalized, meaning that instead of your own equipment you will be fighting using a set of items that's appropriate for the instance. That way, the challenge level will be equal for all players. Depending on how quickly you clear the dungeon, your group can earn one of three possible medals: gold, silver, or bronze. Working together as a team, communicating well, and supporting and encouraging each other is the best way to get those shiny gold medals.

So practice your pulls, lay out your strategies, and remember that communication and coordination are key. Challenge Mode is coming. Are you ready?

Challenge modes should be enabled for all 6 of the expected Pandaria dungeons and the 3 updated dungeons.[4]

*Note - Mists of Pandaria Challenge modes will be retired in the Warlords of Draenor pre-patch 6.0 to prepare for the upcoming versions. All Challenge mode achievements, from Mists of Pandaria, will be converted to Feats of Strength.

Rewards are received at the end of each challenge. The best rewards are given to those who can achieve gold medals. Things such as armor, titles, and mounts have been mentioned as possible rewards for those who are willing enough to complete the hardest difficulty and earn a gold medal.[3]

There are three tiers of achievements and rewards: gold, silver, and bronze.[6]

Player's UI will show medal tabulation, record times, rewards, and how much time mid-run until you hit the next bracket.[6]

Completing any challenge mode will reward an achievement specific to that dungeon: dungeon name Challenger

Note: It is not clear if Wowhead DB info was actually pulled from game data or manually inserted based on observation or speculation.

Challenge participants can compare their performance to others who attempted the various challenges, their ranks, times and medals.[16] The UI will give info about potential rewards based on the medals achieved.